Desk for the manufacture of macreme lace



2 SheetsSheet 1 (No Mudel.)

E. K. SAOKETT.

DESK FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MAGRBME LAGE.

Patented Oct. 25, 1881.

N. PETERS Pholn-Lilhognphur. Washmgtun, D. c

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)-

E.- K. SAOKETT. DESK FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF MAGREML LACE.

No. 248,669. Patented 0ct.'25,1881'.

Z ja/i,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMANUEL K. SAOKETT, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

DESK FOR THE MANUFACTURE OFMACREME LACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,669, dated October 25, 1881,

Application filed August 6, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMANUEL K. SAOKET'I, of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Desks for the Manufacture of Macreme Lace, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention has relation to that class of devices employed in the making or weaving of lace, especially of the kind now known as macrem lace or macrem fringe, which devices are called lace desks or laceboards, their purpose being to properly hold the threads while the operator is weaving or tying the lace.

Among the chief objects of my invention are the production of a light, strong, and durable desk, which may be rested upon the lap without fatigue to the operator; the provision of means admitting ofthe folding or rolling of the desk, so that it may be packed in small coinpass 5 the provision of a simple, cheap, and efficient means of sustainin gcertai n of the threads in an elevated position above the desk for tyin g peculiar knots, and the provision of simple and efficient means for holding the longitudinal threads called runners or leaders.

To accomplish all of this the invention involves certain novel and useful arrangements or combinations of parts and peculiarities of construction, all of which will be herein first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, I have shown at Figure l a perspective view of an improved desk constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing one of the end pieces as folded down against the back, and indicating the arrangement of parts for folding or rolling the desk into small compass. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a fragment of a hook-plate, which may be employed on the desk instead of the removable pins shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4c is a perspective view of the front of a desk in which the bar for holding the threads in elevated position is maintained by a flat strip of metal attached to the front piece. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of myimproved desk folded or rolled and ready for packing or transportation. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the front piece of the desk, showing the bar for holding the threads in elevated position, as secured by means of a hook upon its lower end, which hook enters a groove in the front piece and engages with a narrow flange on the metallic strip.

In all these figures like letters of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts.

A is the back piece of the desk, usually made a little wider than the front piece, B, so that a convenient inclination will be given the top.

To make the top of the desk light and cheap, and at the same time flexible, so that it may be folded, I employ a strip of cloth or canvas, 0, of suitable length and width, the same being attached to the back and front pieces, A and B, substantially as shown.

To the back piece, A, are hinged the end pieces, D D, of a length corresponding to the required width of the desk. These pieces extend between the back and front, and when in proper place they should stretch the canvas or cloth top 0 fairly tight, so that it willform a good surface on which the work can he per v affords a convenient means of holding this edge upontheback piece, A. Suitable tacks or screws may be driven through the strip 0 and through the cloth top and into the material of the back piece. The front edge of the top 0 may be secured to the front piece, B,in a similar manner, or this edge may, as shown, be secured in a slit or groove cut in the material of the front piece. The removable pins 1) are preferred; but

the strip crnight be provided with hooks b, as in Fig. 1, and passes under rod F, and its end shown at Fig. 3.

The top being made flexible, as explained, the desk is capable of being readily folded or rolled into a small compass by simply loosening the catches a a, turning the end pieces down upon the hack, and then folding or rolling the top over them. The top is usually of such Width as to wrap completely around the back, as shown in Fig. 5, and it will thus hold the pins I), which may be in place, against accidental displacement and cover the work which may be on the desk.

Although I have specified cloth or canvas as the proper material of which to make the top, it should be understood that any other suitable flexible material may be employed.

The end pieces,DD, instead of being hinged to the back, might be hinged to the front, or otherwise arranged so as to admit of the required folding.

For holding the longitudinal threads or runners or leaders, I perforate the end pieces, D D, in their outer sides, just below the top, as at d d, and these perforations receive pins like b b, which are to hold the longitudinal threads. This construction dispenses with pins at the tops of the end pieces and causes the threads to be drawn across the edges of the end pieces, whereby they are securely held against disarrangement. These perforations may or may not have a metallic protecting-strip of metal to prevent wear.

1n the weaving of peculiar knots, such as are technically known as Solomons knots, and others of a like character, it becomes necessary to elevate and hold some of the threads above the top of the desk, substantially as indicated in Fig. 1. To provide for this elevating and holding, I employ a spring-bar, E, preferably of brass or thin metal. At the up per end of this bar is a fiat strip, 9, of spring metal, secured to the same at top and forming a holdin g-sprin g, beneath the free end of which the threads may be easily slipped. The bar E being in place on the desk, as many threads as are desired to be held in elevated position are drawn across the front of the bar E and slipped up beneath the free end of clip 9. These threads, being made to bend around the edge of bar E, are firmly held in place, and when the knot is tied they have only to be pulled down in order to release them, and other threads may be put in their place.

It is desirable that the bar E be capable of being set at any point along the front of the desk, so that the threads may be properly located; and it is also desirable that the threads be firmly held, or that the bar should not tip from side to side or give to the strain on the threads more thanin accordance with the elasticity of the bar.

To provide for holding the bar in place, I employ a rod, F, along the front of the desk and separated therefrom by a little distance. The lower end of bar E is bent, as plainly shown is made to rest upon the front edge of the desk. This construction enables the operator to move the bar along to any point to detach the same from the desk, when desired, and it serves to hold the bar firmly when in use.

Instead of the rod F, as shown in Fig. l, I may employ a fiat strip of metal or other material, as F, Fig. 4, secured at its ends to the front of the desk. The end of the bar E, being (for use in connection with this form) flattened, may he slipped between the piece B and strip F, and will there be held, as in the form above explained. This form is more compact than the other, but is in all respects an equivalent thereof; and the same is true with respect to the construction indicated in Fig. 6, wherein the strip F is secured upon the front of the desk in such manner as to partially cover a longitudinal groove, h, and has a slightflange turned in to engage with the hook on the lower end of the bar E. 'A projection, a, on bar E bears upon the upper face of the desk front.

If the strip F, Fig. 4, be made of considerable length, it may be prevented from springing by use of one or more pins, k, between its ends. Any other equivalent means of holding the lower end of the bar E may be employed.

I place at the back of the desk two or more flexible strips, as at H H, which do not interfere with the folding, as above explained, and which are useful in resting the desk upon the knees, as will be readily understood. These strips may be replaced by a continuous piece of cloth, or they may be omitted. When in use they, together with the top 0, prevent the front piece from turning out of place.

The desk thus constructed and arranged is light and portable, easy to handle and use, and may be conveniently folded for carrying in a valise or traveling-roll. It is comparatively inexpensive and admirably answers the several purposes and objects of the invention, as previously stated.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described lace-desk or laceboard, provided with a flexible top and rigid sides and ends, the same being arranged to be folded or rolled up, substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the back piece carrying the thread-holding pins, the front piece, the flexible top secured upon said pieces, and the two end pieces hinged upon the back and arranged to be closed down, substantially as shown and described.

3. In combination with the front piece of a lace-desk, a spring-bar for holding the threads in elevated position, said bar being adjustable along said side and prevented from tipping, substantially as shown and described.

4. The combination, with the front piece, of the movable thread-holding bar adjustable along the same, and. having a pinehingspring applied upon or near its upper end, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. The combination of the front and back 5 pieces, the flexible top secured thereon, and.

the end pieces, perforated in their sides and below their tops, for the reception of pins, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence 10 of two witnesses.

EMANUEL K. SAOKETT.

Witnesses WORTH OSGOOD, JOHN BUOKLER. 

